17 October 1986—Gringotts Bank Albion
"Here," Skullpiercer said, putting a folder filled with muggle documents in Rita's hands. "Coroner's report, police report and notes. Show them to Cuffe and write an article focusing on what's in them. Most of the findings here mirror what you yourself witnessed, so your article won't be too different from the one you were planning to write."
The timing of Cuffe's patronus couldn't have been worse. First off, she and the Lovegoods had to explain to a suddenly terrified Leda that, no, the Harry Potter he mentioned wasn't her—wasn't even a real person. How do you explain dead golem bodies that mimic human bodies in everything but a soul to a little girl who only learned that magic was real 10 minutes earlier? The answer: you can't. Instead, you comfort her and tell her mummy has to go to work and Luna and her parents would take her home.
And that's the other problem with Cuffe's timing. Rita desperately wanted to be the one to take Leda to Lovegood House for the first time. She wanted to show Leda her new room and help her brush her teeth and change for bed and read her a story or two before kissing her goodnight. She wanted to be there in case Leda had nightmares and needed comfort during that first night in a new house. But now that the Harry Potter death story has broken, she knows she'll be up all night working—and probably into the next day as well. That meant she would have to rely on Xeno, Pandora, and Luna to help Leda adjust to her new home. Luckily, Luna had already planned to share her bed with her new sister, so that might at least ease some of Leda's (and Rita's) worries.
Sure, she'll be able to introduce her daughter to Handbag End when she returns home, and no doubt Leda will likely be just as spellbound by that giant house inside a tiny bag as Luna was the first time she saw it, but it won't be the same.
But that's how it goes. I made a deal with the goblins, and I have to follow through. After all, they saved my daughter's life. Missing my little girl for a few hours because I have to do my job is a very small price to pay in the long run.
At least she and the girls had big plans for the coming weeks. Since Rita's home was a handbag that she could take anywhere, the three adults decided that Rita and Leda would have rooms in Lovegood House and the Lovegoods would have rooms in Handbag End. In both homes, Leda's and Luna's bedrooms would be side-by-side, so they were never far from one another.
Before Rita left, she had to ensure both young girls that they would soon be able to take a day and go on a huge shopping spree to decorate Leda's two new rooms and Luna's new room in Handbag End. She assured them that they could pick all the furniture and the colors and everything. Plus, they would also get an all-new wardrobe for Leda as well as any toys and books that she'd like. In other words, for at least the next few weeks, Leda Costaros would be spoiled rotten, and Rita couldn't wait to get started.
So good times were ahead, but it would, sadly, have to wait. Right now, it was time for work. And as she stood in Skullpiercer's office and sifted through the reports and evidence collected by the muggle authorities, Rita had to admit that they were extremely thorough. Obviously, the Dursleys' guilty verdicts were a foregone conclusion, but there was also plenty of evidence here that implicated Dumbledore in his dereliction of duty (not that the muggles would know that).
"Do you know who's heading the DMLE investigation?" Rita asked.
"I hear it's Bones herself," the goblin replied.
Amelia Bones was the head of the DMLE, so it was unusual for her to be so involved in a case. Then again, this was no ordinary case.
"Well, she's a Hufflepuff, so at least she'll talk to me before kicking me out of the Ministry."
The goblin paused. "You might consider telling her what you know about the blood ward."
Rita looked up, surprised. "How would I explain my knowledge of that without giving away everything else?"
"Tell her (and only her) that a Gringotts wardmaster noticed it when he was investigating a nearby home. Here are the details." He handed her a few sheets of parchment.
Rita scanned them. "Who's Arabelle Figg?"
"Squib who lived near the Dursleys. She was Dumbledore's eyes and ears on Potter—so she was either incompetent or she was not looking after Harry so much as Dumbledore's interests. Anyways, back in September, she decided to take a trip to Florida to see her sister, but before she left she asked Gringotts to install basic wards on her property. All the paperwork's there."
"Right," she remarked, not believing that story one bit. "So I can show this to Bones?"
He nodded.
"To what end?"
"Madam Bones is a smart and honorable woman who also happens to distrust Dumbledore. If we help her here and there, she'll be Minister in no time. We need allies, and she'd make a good one."
"Consider it done." Rita turned to leave, but paused when she remembered something. "By the way, Skullpiercer, have you ever heard the name Malcolm Coldspring?"
"Can't say that I have," the goblin replied. Another lie.
"So there's no Malcolm Coldspring working in the goblin mines right now?"
"I couldn't possibly say," he said, smiling. "Goblin matters are not the concern of witches."
"Ah, but Malcolm Coldspring is neither a goblin nor a witch."
Skullpiercer teethy smile remained fixed on his face but he said nothing.
"How does this sound?" Rita suggested. "I take down Dumbledore and you tell me about Malcolm Coldspring."
Skullpiercer considered. "Why do you want to know?"
"Honestly? I'm just curious," Rita admitted.
"Once Dumbledore is out of the way, then perhaps we'll talk about that certain non-goblin, non-witch."
"Sounds like a plan," Rita said on her way out the door.
‡
HARRY POTTER DEAD:
WHERE WAS DUMBLEDORE?
For the past five years, whenever anyone asked Hogwarts Headmaster, Chief Wizard, and Supreme Mugwump Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore about the whereabouts of the Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter, his answer was always the same: "He is safe and happy and being looked after by a loving and protective family."
Today we learned the bitter truth: none of that was true.
The truth: for the past five years Harry Potter has been living with his muggle relatives in Little Whinging, Surrey. During those five years, Vernon and Petunia Dursley née Evans (younger sister of the late Lady Potter) and their son Dudley proceeded to make Harry's life a living hell. Forced to live in a cupboard under the stairs, they treated the child like a slave, forcing him to clean their house, cook their meals, and tend their garden. In return, they beat him, starved him, and verbally and sexually abused him. Then, on 17 September, Vernon Dursley and his wife did the unthinkable: they killed their nephew through a combination of physical violence and starvation.
Witches and wizards around the world want to know: how could this happen? How could a boy who survived the killing curse just five years ago, defeating the most notorious dark wizard of modern times, be killed by muggles?
The answer: five years of torture and abuse until there was nothing left but a shell of a child.
Now the magical world demands to know: where was Albus Dumbledore, the child's magical guardian, when all this was happening? Why did he not put a stop to it? And what will happen next?
‡
17 October 1987—Lovegood House
"Here you go, Leda," Pandora said as she ushered the young girl into her new room. "It's pretty empty right now, but remember your mum said we'd be going out shopping in a few days so you can decorate the room any way you'd like."
The room was, in fact, rather sparsely decorated. The walls were an off-white. There was a simple bed and wardrobe, a desk, a bookshelf that was half-full with some of Luna's favorite books—books she was eager for her new sister to read. In all, it was rather underwhelming—at least from Pandora's perspective.
But to Luna? It was paradise.
"This is all mine?" she asked, wide-eyed as walked around and looked at every single thing.
"Sure is, sweetie," Xeno said from behind his wife.
"And if you open the wardrobe," Pandora said, doing just that, "you'll see we got you some robes and dresses and jeans and tops. It's just a few things you can wear until we all go shopping in a few days."
"I picked them out," Luna said as she held her sister's hand and looked into her brilliant green eyes. "I like green and blue so I thought you might like green and blue too. But they're not my old stuff—they're all new!"
Leda looked surprised. "New?" Luna nodded.
"We know you were forced to wear your cousin's old clothes and they never fit you right," Pandora said, kneeling down so she was at eye-level with Leda. "But we bought these just for you—no one else. We want you to know how much we love you and how happy we are you are part of our family."
Tears fell liberally over Leda's face as she smiled and grabbed hold of Pandora's neck. "Thank you, Aunt Pan. I love you too." When their hug ended, Leda turned to Luna and hugged and thanked her, and then did the same for Xeno.
When the hugs ended, Luna dragged Leda over to the bookcase and began showing her each book, one at a time, starting with one of the Greek ones. Satisfied that the two would be busy for a while, Pandora and Xeno tiptoed out and headed into the sitting room.
They sat down and called for Pipi to bring them some wine. They remained quiet until their first sips had been taken. Then Xeno said, "I've never seen Luna so excited."
Pandora nodded. "She's been like this since the transformation."
"How late will Rita be tonight?"
Shaking her head, Pandora sighed. "She probably won't be around much for the next few days—and I know she's gutted that she's not here right now. But once the dust clears from the Dumbledore stuff, we should give Rita and Leda some space—some mother-daughter bonding time. We could take that trip to Cornwall you were talking about."
"Good idea. Luna would love the beaches there," Xeno said, nodding.
The two sipped their tea, and Xeno snagged a biscuit. Then Pandora raised the question she'd been wanting to raise all day: "Do you think it'll work? You, me, and Rita basically co-parenting two young girls together?"
"Do you think it won't?" Xeno asked, cautiously.
"No. It's just…Rita's been part of our house on and off since we left Hogwarts, especially since Luna was born. She's family. She's had a room here forever, but Rita only used the room here when she was hungover or taking care of Luna for us. But now things have changed. I doubt we'll be able to separate Leda and Luna from each other. If one sleeps here, then so will the other one, and it'll be true for Handbag as well. It's…just a big change."
"So things are going to be more permanent now. Rita and Leda will be here, be part of our lives, for good. Personally, I don't see a problem with that."
"No, I guess I don't. I just worry."
"The most important thing, though, is raising our girls. And I know Leda just woke up and is still getting used to everything, and I know she's going to be scared and worried and uncertain for a while. But I also know Leda loves Luna and Rita and the two of us. And that soul bond between Rita and Leda…Wow! I felt it in my bones."
Pandora nodded excitedly. "When they held hands at the hospital, the bond was so thick, it was practically corporeal—like a patronus."
"Mummy, is there tea and biscuits?" Luna called, leading Leda by the hand into the room. "Leda says she wants a biscuit."
Xeno smiled. "Did Leda say that or did you suggest it to her?"
"No, she really wants a biscuit!" Luna declared. "But I can help her eat it."
The two adults laughed, and Pipi arrived with biscuits.
‡
19 October 1986—Ministry of Magic
"Madam Bones, do you have a second?"
Ameila Bones had just returned from the Dursleys' residence where all they found were some minor wards and a cupboard under the stairs filled with spiderwebs, child's drawings, and ripped-up clothing. Now she had to go to her office and write up a report for the Minister. She was not going to be happy.
Then, of course, Rita Skeeter shows up. As if her day could get any worse!
"Rita, not now, please," Amelia said with an exhausted huff. "I have a lot to do and very little time to do it."
"Do you know about the blood ward at the Dursleys house?"
Amelia froze and turned to Rita in shock. "What…?"
Rita led Amelia over to a corner of the Ministry lobby and set up a silencing charm. "I have evidence of a blood ward at the house, when it was established, and who it was established by. I know it's gone now, but it was there before Harry died. If you give me a brief interview, I'll tell you everything."
Amelia was stunned but also suspicious. "What's the catch?"
Rita shook her head. "I just want an interview."
Amelia frowned. "Why don't I believe you?"
Rita sighed, and Amelia saw a softness in Rita's eyes that she'd never seen before. "Look, I…had to take some time off recently. There was a family emergency. Long story short, I'm a mum now and I couldn't be happier about it. But what happened to Harry tore me apart. If we can't protect the savior of the wizarding world, of all people, then what does that say about us? I want to raise my daughter in a safe world—a better world than the one we grew up in. I know you feel the same about Susan. Our world isn't safe right now, but it can be. The both of us together? We could change this world. You know how powerful the press can be. I'll admit I've abused that power in the past for selfish reasons, but from here on out, only one thing matters to me: protecting my Leda and all the other little boys and girls out there like her. We can't let another child end up like Harry."
Amelia's mouth opened, but no sound came out for several seconds as she processed Rita Skeeter—Rita Skeeter, of all people—delivering such a moving speech. Eventually, she realized where they were, so she smiled to Rita and said, "Come on. Let's go somewhere quiet for that interview. Then perhaps you can tell me all about your daughter."
‡
BLOOD WARD AT DURSLEYS:
DUMBLEDORE'S DOING?
Today, Amelia Bones, Head of the DMLE, acting on a tip, announced that evidence of a blood ward was found at the home of Vernon and Petunia Dursley, the home where Harry Potter was brutally abused and eventually killed.
"All we know for certain," Bones said, "is that there was an illegal blood ward in place at Number 4 Privet Drive in Little Whinging, Surrey, and that the specific dark nature of the ward might be connected to the violent abuse inflicted on young Mr Potter by his relatives—abuse that led directly to his tragic death just a few short weeks ago."
Asked whether the person responsible for the blood ward had been identified, Bones said, "There is no direct evidence to implicate anyone in the creation and use of the blood ward, but we do have some leads."
When asked whether Albus Dumbledore was a suspect, Bones answered, "I cannot comment on an ongoing investigation, but if charges are eventually filed, then you will have your answer."
Augusta Longbottom has already asked the Wizengamot for a vote of no confidence against Chief Warlock Dumbledore over his apparent dereliction of duty to his magical ward. Should it come out that Dumbledore was indeed responsible for the blood ward that might have killed Harry Potter, it is likely that this vote will be the least of his problems.
‡
20 October 1986—Lovegood House
Rita knelt down beside Leda's bed, which held two sleeping girls who were practically spooning one another.
"I love you," Rita whispered to Leda as she leaned over to kiss her on the forehead.
"Mummy?" a very sleepy Leda murmured.
"Shhhh. Go back to sleep. I just wanted to see you before I went to bed."
"I missed you, mummy."
Before Leda, Rita rarely cried, but now she seemed to be crying non-stop. "Oh, I missed you too. I'm so, so sorry that I have been gone so much. It'll be over soon, my dear, I promise. Then we'll have lots and lots of time together."
"Okay, mama. I love you," Leda murmured, falling back asleep.
"I love you, astéri mou."
"Se agapó too, Aunt Rita. G'night," a groggy Luna mumbled.
"Good night, Luna," Rita said, kissing her. Then she returned to Leda and kissed her again. "And good night to you, too, darling."
She left the room as quietly as she could and headed towards her bedroom.
"Everything all right?" a whispering voice behind her asked, startling her and making her jump.
"Aaa! Pan, don't do that!" Rita said, a little louder than she planned. "And yes, all is well. Dumbledore's roasting on a spit as we speak."
"Excellent," Pandora said, following Rita to her room. "All is well here. Leda and Luna spent the day reading and playing with their stuffed kelpies. That was a big hit, by the way. We might need to get green versions of all of Luna's stuffed animals."
"Perhaps Leda is a Slytherin!"
"I hope not, but I guess we'll see."
Rita sighed. "There's so much we still have to learn about each other, and finally—finally!—I can be home for more than a few hours at a time. I've got articles to write, but I can do that at home. I did all the research today—that's why I'm so late. Barring an emergency, the rest of the week is all for Leda."
"Well, we saved the trip to Diagon for when you're free, so we can do that tomorrow."
"That sounds perfect!" Rita said, removing her make-up and earrings and readying for bed. "We'll buy out Madam Malkin's!"
"Indeed. And later this week, if you need some mummy-daughter bonding time, Xeno and I can take Luna to Cornwall and leave you guys alone."
"That's not necessary—unless you want to. I certainly don't want to kick you guys out of your house!"
"It's been a lot, these past few weeks. I think we all need a break." Rita was sitting on her bed, so Pandora came and sat next to her and took her hand in hers. "And you, my fíli, need to remember that your soul bond is still forming. You need to spend time with your daughter. You need to tie your magic with hers, to truly strengthen your bond—and you need to do it as soon as possible. I know circumstances weren't what you were hoping for these past few days, but it looks like you have plenty of time to make it up now.
"So let us take a quick trip to Cornwall for a few days. Luna's never been to Penzance, so it'll be great. We'll bring the tent, and no doubt my weird husband will rope Luna into hunting down those fae animals that only they can see. We'll have a wonderful time and you can finally give Leda a full tour of Handbag End and her new room so you and she can start decorating and picking out furniture and organizing her wardrobe. You can cook together, play in the pool together, read to her or together, and just learn about each other. You said it, there's so much more we need to learn about Leda and so much she needs to learn about us. Heck, Leda needs to learn about herself, her likes and dislikes. She's still trying to figure out who she is and how life as a girl differs from her old life. Give her time to do that and be there for her while she's learning all this.
"At the end of the day, that's what being a mum is all about," Pandora finished, kissing Rita's forehead and walking out of her room.
"That all sounds wonderful," Rita said. "Efcharistó."
"No problem. See you tomorrow."
The light went off and Rita settled into bed. "I can't wait for tomorrow!"
